The FBI thwarted a potential attack involving explosive drones targeting the White House during the weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 event, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on Tuesday.
According to officials speaking to FOX News, the plan was to launch explosive drones to hit buildings near the event to drive spectators into a sniper ambush, and then storm the White House gates, with the goal being to target "capitalist elites," "billionaires," or politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
The FBI has reportedly arrested five suspects so far, with the investigation stretching across at least 12 FBI field offices, officials told FOX.
"While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens - particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight," Patel wrote on X.
Sean Curran, director of the Secret Service, said his agency "worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable."
Nearly 4,500 people would have been in danger if the attack succeeded
US President Donald Trump's UFC Freedom 250 event saw some 4,300 attendees, including about 1,200 active-duty service members and 14 fighters from around the world, on the White House's South Lawn on Sunday in honor of Trump's 80th birthday.
"I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted," Patel wrote.
Trump has not commented on the potential attack, which is the latest in a series of attempts to harm him, the most recent of which was the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in May, when an active shooter fired several shots in the hall.